Case No.: C-007

Diagnosis: Myocardial infarction, remote

Organ: Heart

Last Updated: 1/21/2011

Online Slide/ Full Screen/ Open with ImageScope

Hematoxylin & eosin

Area 1: Note the difference between the fibrotic part (F) and residual myocardial fibers (M). Occasional entrapped fibers (arrow) are seen within the fibrotic areas.

Hematoxylin & eosin

Area 2: Note that fibrosis is absent in this area. It indicates that this area has not been affected by the infarction to the extent that there is necrosis and fibrosis. Note the enlarged nuclei indicative of myocardial hypertrophy (white arrow). The yellowish depositions (black arrow) are lipofusin.

History: This slide was obtained from the archive and had no history but the patient has a history of remote heart attack.

 

Histologic Highlights of this Case:

  • This specimen is obtained from an autopsy. The patient has a remote (in terms of months if not years) history of myocardiac infarction. You can see that all the acute inflammatory cell infiltration that you would see in the acute phase or histiocytic infiltration, fibroblastic proliferation that you would see in the resolving phase have resolved. What is left behind are irregular areas of fibrosis (fibrotic scars) (Area 1). Note that these scars are composed predominantly of collagen fibers with very little fibroblasts.

  • Hypertrophic changes of the remaining fibers (Area 2) can be seen. You can see that the nuclei of these myocardial fibers are enlarged.

Compare this with other stages of myocardial infarction: C005, C006

Original slide is contributed by Pathology Learning Center, University of Iowa (Iowa Image Collection).

 Home Page